Review: What the Carpenter Saw by Vicki Reese

At a Glance: Ms. Reese did a good job portraying the warmth of the small town setting, and the friends and family to go along with it.

Reviewed By: Maryann

Blurb: Wounded warrior Jake Cramer returned from the Middle East missing part of one leg and with a partially paralyzed left arm. He feels useless in his family’s construction business, but carpentry is all he knows. He needs to relearn how to work and how to live. He can’t even consider finding a man to love. Who would want him this way?
Alex Ford is a top-of-the-line architect who’s tired of big cities and wants to settle down, maybe run a small inn. The mansion he inherited from his grandparents might be the ticket to his dream, but it needs a lot of work. When he meets the handsome builder, he knows he’s made the right decision. He just needs to convince Jake that his scars don’t matter. Unfortunately Alex’s greedy family has other ideas, and they’re determined to ruin Alex’s plans and take the inheritance for themselves—even if they have to kill to do it.

Review: Jake Cramer has his up and down days. Yes, he’s a wounded warrior and gets frustrated and a little down on himself, but he always has the determination to move on. There are some things he can’t do because of his injuries, but his skill is carpentry.

Alex Ford is a big-time architect and has inherited his grandparents’ home, along with his sister, Rachel. I thought Alex and his sister had a very special connection and it seemed like she was playing matchmaker for her brother and Jake. It was nice to see they never thought or acted like they were better than any of Jake’s family or the townspeople.

I liked the family dynamics in this story. Jakes family is always supportive and understanding. I really thought the relationship between Jake and his dad, Mike, was very important. The murder mystery is entwined with secret tunnels in the wine cellar and some interesting facts about wine bottles.

What the Carpenter Saw is Vicki Reese’s debut novel—I would classify it as mystery lite. There’s drama, humor, greedy relatives and not so bright criminals, but nothing that’s too intense. Ms. Reese did a good job portraying the warmth of the small town setting, and the friends and family to go along with it.

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